Mumps

Mumps is a highly infectious viral disease caused by a type of paramyxovirus.

What are the symptoms?

Once infected with the virus, symptoms usually appear within 14 to 24 days. The most common symptoms of mumps are:

• Swelling of the parotid glands (the salivary glands situated just below each ear). This causes the typical hamster-like appearance often seen in children with mumps
• Pain swallowing
• Dry mouth
• Fever
• Headache
• Joint pain
• Lack of appetite
• Nausea

Some of the more severe illnesses caused by the virus include the swelling of the testes, meningitis, encephalitis, deafness, pancreatitis and pericarditis. Contrary to popular belief, there is no hard evidence the virus can cause sterility in men.

Mumps was the most common cause of viral meningitis in the UK before the introduction of the MMR vaccine in 1998.

How is it spread?

Children infected with the virus pass it on by coughing and sneezing tiny droplets containing the virus into the air. These can then be breathed in by anyone nearby.

The virus is able to survive in the outside environment, so you can get mumps from touching surfaces contaminated with the virus (a door handle, for instance), and then touching your mouth or face.

Prevention

Mumps can be prevented by vaccination. The MMR vaccine is thought to be 95 per cent effective in preventing infection.

Children should be kept from school at least 5 days after the first symptoms appear as they may be infectious.

Treatment

As there are no drugs which can kill the mumps virus, treatment involves trying to relieve the symptoms:

• Use liquid paracetamol to help with fever and aches and pains
• A cold compress can help to reduce the pain from swollen glands
• Drink plenty of fluids to help prevent dehydration. Avoid drinks such as fruit juice as these stimulate the parotid glands to produce more saliva, causing pain
• Squishy foods are best as they don’t require chewing

This article was published on Thu 2 September 2010